Harlem Rocker skipping Preakness

justindew · #1 05-12-2008, 10:47 AM

From DRF.

Bummer.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/94470.html

Better Than Honour · #2 05-12-2008, 10:52 AM

I thought he would have a chance but I am sure NYRA is happy. I really want to see the Casino Drive v Big Brown matchup with a TC on the line. Big Brown is obviously a very talented horse but I am glad he will have to earn his TC if he is to win it. Casino Drive is going to be very tough to beat at that distance against a Big Brown that is probably going to be showing a bit of wear and tear off 3 races in 5 weeks.

hockey2315 · #3 05-12-2008, 11:46 AM

Stronach's a joke. . .

parsixfarms · #4 05-12-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Stronach's a joke. . .

As a race track operator, yes. However, with the racing and breeding side of his operation, he does a pretty good job year in and year out. I know they were seriously looking at the Preakness before the Withers, but they are probably doing the right thing for their horse at this point in his career. By a sire, Macho Uno, whose best offspring to date look like milers, it would be asking a lot to rush him into a Triple Crown race with a 13 horse field as his first two-turn race and first attempt over a mile - and I say that as someone who would have liked to see Harlem Rocker take on Big Brown.

The Queen's Plate is run over a synthetic surface, so it makes a lot of sense to run in the Plate Trial to get a race over that surface. Also, I'm not so sure he really beat much in the Withers. To my eye, J Be K ran a race in the Withers very much like his effort at the Fair Grounds. Harlem Rocker ran by, albeit easily, a horse that looked like he wanted no part of a mile.